A physiotherapist breaks down and defines these two disciplines – in sandwich and superhero form.

Ah, the age-old debate: occupational therapy (OT) vs physical therapy (PT). I’m a physiotherapist – that’s British for physical therapist – and trust me, we’ve heard it all before.

“So, you do what OTs do, right?”

It’s a question we get asked often and, while we love our occupational therapy colleagues (honestly, we do), there’s a bit more to it than that.

Let’s dive into this, shall we? But first, let’s clear one thing up: No, OTs don’t do what we do. And no, we don’t do what OTs do. It’s like asking if tea and coffee are the same because both involve hot water. They’re related, but you wouldn’t mix them up unless you were having a very bad day.

What’s the difference?

The difference between OT and PT boils down to the end goal. Us physiotherapists are all about movement and function. We love muscles, joints and working out how to get a person moving better, faster and stronger. Whether it’s a post-op knee replacement, a dodgy back or helping someone recover from a stroke, our goal is simple: we get you moving, and we make sure you’re doing it right.

OTs, on the other hand, have a larger focus. They like helping people do everyday tasks. Dressing, eating, using the loo – things you don’t really think about until they become difficult. OTs are the heroes who come in and say, “Right, let’s figure out how to get you back to being independent.” They might adapt your environment, give you equipment or even teach you new ways of doing things.

Simply put, we (PTs) work on how you move, and OTs work on what you do with that movement.

The grey area

Now, let’s get into the fun bit – where things overlap. This is where it gets interesting and a little bit confusing even for me sometimes. You see, OTs and PTs both work on similar body parts, especially in rehabilitation settings. You’ll often see us tag-teaming with patients who’ve had strokes, brain injuries or complex physical disabilities. But while me (the PT) is focused on, say, getting someone’s shoulder muscles firing again, the OT is busy figuring out how to help them brush their teeth by any means possible.

We both care about patient independence and, sometimes, our goals overlap. Don’t worry, there’s plenty of space for both of us to shine. You might say it’s a bit like a sandwich. We’re the bread, keeping things functional. And OTs are the filling, making life tastier and easier to digest.

Together, we’re a team – OTs and PTs, the perfect rehabilitation sandwich.

The tools of the trade

Let’s consider the tools of our trade – where we really start to stand apart. PTs, we love exercise. Give us a stretchy band, a set of weights or even just body weight and we’ll turn it into a full-blown workout. We’re the drill sergeants of rehabilitation (friendly ones). We’ll have you squatting, stretching, and sweating your way to better functionality.

OTs, on the other hand, have gadgets. They’ve got grabbers, long-handled shoe horns, funky-looking cutlery and chairs that do all sorts of things. I’ve seen OTs transform kitchens into something James Bond would be proud of, all with the goal of making life just a bit easier, because your independence is restored.

So, to wrap up: Is OT better than PT? Is PT better than OT? The answer is no to both, obviously. We’re two sides of the same coin, tackling the same problems from different angles. We’re like Batman and Robin, Thelma and Louise, tea and biscuits – better together.

We might have different approaches, but trust me, we couldn’t do what we do without each other!

This is a guest blog from a placement physiotherapist at Heba. For more advice and knowledge from health professionals, visit our expert insights.